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July 25, 2008 7:14:59 AM CDT

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Virtual Kidnap Latest Crime Wave in Mexico

Posted Apr 29, 08 6:02 AM CDT in Crime & Courts,  World 

(Newser) – Mexican crooks are putting a new twist on an old crime with "virtual kidnapping," the New York Times reports. The criminals are cashing in on the widespread fear of kidnapping by calling families and pretending to have snatched a loved one—usually a child—for ransom. Many panicked parents pay up before they realize that their loved one is safe.

Often, the parents can hear a child in the background crying. A hotline for victims of "virtual kidnapping" has had over 30,000 calls in three months. “This reflects the fear in Mexican society, the collective psychosis about kidnapping,” said one journalist, who fell victim to the crime herself. “If you think there’s any chance that it’s your child, you play along.”

Source New York Times

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A new trend, dubbed "virtual kidnapping," is on the rise in Mexico. Residents will receive a call from a person pretending to be a family member held for ransom, and will be asked to quickly pay up.   (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Maria Isabel Miranda, mother of Hugo Alberto Wallace, points to a billboard reporting her son's kidnapping in Mexico City, Wednesday, July 11, 2007.   (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Families line up outside at the Guerrero state jail in Acapulco. Police believe many of the perpetrators of "virtual kidnapping" are operating from inside prisons using contraband cellphones.   (KRT Photos)
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crime  • Mexico  • kidnapping  • organized crime  • ransom


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